"That's a given. Spit it out—what good stuff this time?" Sky Qi raised an eyebrow.

"The expedition leader is the Bloodline princess. She holds the spirit stone of heaven and earth you've sought for so long."

Sky Qi's expression shifted slightly but was quickly masked. "I meant you're giving it to me."

"Ten thousand gold coins. Ten blood diamonds!"

"Generous! Deal!" Sky Qi boomed with laughter, slapping palms with him.

Ten thousand gold coins plus ten blood diamonds could fund six months of lavish living. Sky Qi's face stayed calm, but inside he was bursting. His savings were nearly gone; without this job, he'd soon be scraping by.

William pulled a scroll from the pouch at his waist.

A teleportation scroll! Sky Qi's eyelid twitched. This Sacred Knight Heroic Corps really was a squad of filthy rich bastards—even using teleportation scrolls now.

But that was fine. At least he, with his F-rank luck stat, wouldn't dodge death all the way. Otherwise, he'd be exhausted before arrival.

William tore the scroll. A strange blue array flared beneath his feet, soft azure light rising from the ground.

"Follow me in," William told Sky Qi and the other Sacred Knight Heroic Corps members.

The moment everyone stepped into the array, it vanished with them—as if evaporated.

"Captain, you're loaded—even buying teleportation scrolls!" A lean man slung an arm around William. His face bore terrifying scars; his skeletal frame radiated explosive power.

The Hunting King, Black—renowned master of traps and prey capture. Even Sky Qi couldn't match him here.

Sky Qi yawned lazily. "This is a forest. And ahead's the Bloodline castle, right? Must we go in alone?"

"No wonder you're the Continent Strongest—you sensed it," William chuckled, thumbs-up. "Exactly. We raid solo, wiping out the Bloodline army as they leave the castle."

Black froze. "We're at the Bloodline castle? Isn't this reckless?"

"Don't we have our Continent Strongest?" A middle-aged man hefted a massive sword on his shoulder. "Slaughtering Bloodline scum will be easy."

His chest was scarred, upper body bare to show bulging muscles. Thick, unshaven stubble clung to his rugged face like black weeds. Spittle flecked his beard, nauseating.

The Easterner was Lin Yanfeng, the Butcher. Once a pig slaughterer, later an executioner in the Saisy Empire. His unmatched strength made him a perfect heavy warrior.

"Cut it out, Uncle Lin. Don't flatter me to death," Sky Qi rolled his eyes, flipped from the tree, and landed lightly. "And remember—if we find that spirit stone, it's mine."

"Heh heh, of course," William said, a sharp glint flashing unseen in his eyes.

"So, what's the plan now?" Sky Qi asked lazily, as if unbothered. It took immense clout to hire him, after all.

"Simple. We wait. Black, set traps." William shrugged, nonchalant and confident.

Black nodded slightly, slipped into the jungle, and vanished.

"Vicky, scout the other side," William turned to the armored figure sitting cross-legged on the ground.

Vicky's helmeted head tilted as she rose and dashed toward the Bloodline castle. The heavy armor seemed weightless; her steel boots made no sound. She sprinted as if the hundred-jin armor meant nothing.

Sky Qi stroked his chin in silent admiration. Her Lingbo Weibu mastery was peak-level. Vicky always wore armor and never spoke in their collaborations.

He couldn't help wondering her gender—man or woman? But the name suggested a girl.

He dared not ask. The Continent Strongest inquiring about such trivialities would be laughable.

Curiosity burned, but he had to restrain—restrain—restrain! For his image, he must keep a master's composure.

"If I'm not wrong, the Bloodline army moves at night," Sky Qi said, eyes closed.

"Huh? How'd you know?" William sounded surprised.

"Don't play dumb. You know—the blood moon rises tonight."

Under the blood moon, millions of Dark Races surge. A night of madness; no merchant caravan dares cross the Dark Forest. Any convoy would be torn apart by empowered Dark Races.

The Bloodline are most affected. Nearly human—transformed Dark Races with human discipline and hierarchy.

Only differences: fangs and indescribable crimson eyes. Low-tier Bloodline can't resist bloodlust; only mid-tier and above suppress it.

Blood is their favorite food. Humans and Bloodline are sworn enemies—wars never cease.

Bloodline live far longer. Peak humans like Sky Qi reach three hundred years; even low-tier Bloodline exceed that. Some have lived millennia. Only the Infernal Dragon compares.

But Sky Qi, peaking at fourteen, is unique. At sixteen, he has ample time to spare.

William clicked his tongue. "Give a guy suspense. Don't spoil it so fast."

"But you're right—a blood moon tonight."

"Then we're bold. I'm scared," he said, face fixed in a confident smile.

Crack! A massive branch snapped from his tree, plummeting toward Sky Qi.

Damn it? He jabbed upward—branch shattered like foam into halves. His luck really was terrible.